Planning 'Beyond Blight' in Flint, Michigan

Luke Telendar updates the planning efforts of Flint, Michigan, which earlier this year released its first new master plan since 1960, "Imagine Flint," and has more recently released a blight

1 minute read

July 3, 2014, 12:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Following on the Imagine Flint master plan, the city recently released "Beyond Blight: City of Flint Comprehensive Blight Elimination Framework," which is "a five-year work plan, applying the high-level long-term goals of the Master Plan to short-term concrete blight elimination work. It takes the vision laid out in the Master Plan, and asks, 'Who exactly needs to do what in the next five years to tackle the city’s blight problem?'"

According to Telendar, "the blight framework provides specific action steps to residents, local government, institutions, community groups, and businesses for each blight elimination activity (mowing, demolition, vacant lot reuse, etc.) in each place type (downtown, green space, traditional neighborhood). It also provides prioritization, so, in cases of limited funding, it is clear which activities should be first in line, who is going to execute that work, and where they should focus it."

Tuesday, July 1, 2014 in Center for Community Progress

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30, 2026 - Yale Environment 360

People vote in Chicago behind blue privacy screens

Chicago voters approve permanent festival grounds, penalty for vacant property owners

Currently, major summer and fall festivals take over public parks for weeks at a time, drawing criticism from nearby residents

November 5 - Block Club Chicago

Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks into a microphone. He wears a gray suit.

NYC votes to cut outdoor dining red tape, speed up permitting

New York City also voted to allow the Department of Transportation to begin work on urgent projects before notifying elected officials.

November 5 - The City Reporter

People in Los Angeles going to the polls, following a sign with an "I Voted" design

California appears to reject Prop. 45

The proposition would have expanded the projects that qualify for a streamlined environmental review, effectively paring down the California Environmental Quality Act.

November 5 - Cal Matters